Talk:captain
The Bible and the Eagles as examples
I don't think the King James Bible is the best source of examples, since it is a translation and not written in natural English. Also the song by the Eagles illustrates a very minor use of the word. Redddogg 04:59, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
- My mistake. It is not the King James version being quoted. However the same issue could be raised. Redddogg 05:01, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
- Do you have a better example for that sense? Find a suitable example and replace it. —Stephen 05:16, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
- English Bibles may be translations, but many of them, including Tyndale and the King James Version, are also important literary landmarks. As such they are well worth citing. Ƿidsiþ 05:21, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
- Shakespeare's "Captains and kings depart"? I agree 100% on the importance of biblical translations. I just don't think they show normal everyday use of language. BTW if we are going to use "Hotel California" as a source should we have an entry for the word "steelly"? (just kidding, I love that song.)Redddogg 20:43, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
- My bad. There is one for steely, and just one "l". On the other hand, "They stabbed it with their steely knives" is not normal English. Their determination might have been steely, but their knives were steel. Redddogg 21:18, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
- Shakespeare's "Captains and kings depart"? I agree 100% on the importance of biblical translations. I just don't think they show normal everyday use of language. BTW if we are going to use "Hotel California" as a source should we have an entry for the word "steelly"? (just kidding, I love that song.)Redddogg 20:43, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
- This might be a good example for the general use as leader of men, from The Worm Ouroborus, by E.R. Eddison:
"Tell me," said she, "of this Corinius. Is he such a fighter as men say?"
"He is," said Gro, "one of the most famousest captains that ever was. That might not his worst enemies gainsay."
- How about: "Captian's supposed to be the leader, right?" -Remember the Titans.Redddogg 07:09, 6 June 2010 (UTC)
- I think we are lacking the ironic and humorous use of this word. "Captain Obvious" is noted in another comment. And then there is "Captain Beefheart", "Captain America", "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" etc. I'm not sure how to make this into a definition. And it goes back quite a while; you might have heard of a "Captain Kidd" who was not a captain, except of a pirate ship, and I suppose that could fall under one of the existing definitions. But no law-abiding person would have recognizing him as a "captain". Wastrel Way (talk) 19:53, 25 January 2025 (UTC)Eric
Consolidate
It seems to me, but I could be wrong, that there are two basic related meanings here: "Leader (especially of men into action)" and "master of a ship." The military ranks are specialized meanings derived from this. The other definitions given are just minor variations and maybe could be taken off the page. For instance the master of an airliner, or a spaceship, is just an extension of the second and the leader of a group of workers or a sports team of the first. The word captain could be used in an unlimited way, as long as there are new groups that need leaders. In poker the most aggressive player is called the "table captain." Redddogg 14:12, 27 June 2010 (UTC)
missing
katepánō was a byzantine term which showed up sometime in the 9th century but isn't listed on there :3.Dainomite (talk) 15:30, 23 March 2013 (UTC)
RFV discussion: June–July 2019
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"(Internet) Someone who provides contextual information for a post. Originally a shorthand for Captain Obvious." This sounds pretty plausible but I've never come across it and am having trouble searching. Equinox ◑ 19:44, 21 June 2019 (UTC)
RFV-failed Kiwima (talk) 20:59, 22 July 2019 (UTC)
Also, particularly nautical or as a vocative, ˈkæpən (with this pronunciation also spelt cap’n) Backinstadiums (talk) 09:13, 23 June 2022 (UTC)